Debut of The Four Seasons from the Trees of Life series

This week a set of four new prints debut on the web site.  They are images of trees depicting the Four Seasons from the Trees of Life series.

The texts used for the strokes in the paintings of the Four Seasons, from the Trees of Life series vary. Fall and Spring use all of Deuteronomy 6, while Summer and Winter use only Deuteronomy 6:4. The Spring and Fall prints are also framed with Deuteronomy 6:4 in gold ink, whereas Winter and Summer do not have painted frames. There is theology that germane to both Judaism and Christianity, which supports the choice of these texts.

Many ancient religions, including Judaism have holidays that fall around the time of the solstices and equinox.

The Jewish calendar actually begins twice each year, once in the spring with Passover and then again in the fall at Rosh Hashanah. Why? Because while Passover celebrates the birth of the Jewish nation, Rosh Hashanah celebrates the birth of the individual, the creation of Adam on the sixth day.

Christian holidays of Easter and Pentecost are related to the spring holidays Jesus celebrated of Passover and Shavout, respectively. It is interesting that on the Spring Equinox the Sun rises exactly in the east travels through the sky for 12 hours and sets exactly in the west. Everyone on earth, no matter in what hemisphere experiences this.

During the Fall Equinox everyone also experiences a 12 hour day. Since the creation of the individual on the sixth day was close enough to the first day when God separated the darkness of the deep from the light, it seems fitting Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot are celebrated in the Fall.

Below- The Four Seasons - Trees of Life set -- Article/blog continued after images

Clockwise from top left: Fall Tree Aleph, WinterTree Aleph, SpringTree Aleph and SummerTree Aleph

Many Christian scholars posit that Jesus was born during the season of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Theologically, it makes sense due to the birth of Man motif. There seems to have been some astronomical event at that time of year that could account for the star the Magi followed. Other scholars believe Jesus was born during the festival of Passover. Jews went to Jerusalem for these festivals and to pay their taxes during both these times. We do know that Jesus, and all of his disciples certainly kept the holidays of Rosh HaShanna, Yom Kippur and Sukkoth. The festival of Sukkoth commemorates the period the tribes of Israel were living in the desert in tents, plus it is a harvest festival. Many cultures today have a fall festival that includes a harvest feast that is, or was eaten outdoors. In America, we call it Thanksgiving.

Most Christians know that Jesus was not born at Christmas, and that the ancient Holy Roman Empire in an effort to convert the peoples of its territories superimposed some Christian holidays over “pagan” festivals. So, the holiday that celebrates Winter Solstice became Christmas.

Jesus celebrated the feast of dedication, which is Hanukkah. Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights and every year the world seems to be lit by more and more lights, by both Christians and Jews at this special time of year.

I think because it is the time of year when there is the very least amount of daylight, it becomes our job to bring some light into the world. Both Jews and Christians believe they are to be a light unto the nations.

According to Genesis' first chapter, each day begins at sundown. The Jewish calendar follows this and Jewish days begin at sundown as night falls. Ironically, the Julian calendar, which is used predominantly in Christendom begins its new year close to the darkest time of the year, which echoes the biblical Genesis creation theme of light beginning with darkness and from that next comes the light to illuminate.

There are no summer holidays in the Bible.

For Jews, the rabbis created a day of mourning, Tisha b' Av commemorating the fall of the Temple, the martyrdom of many rabbis and leaders and then Chrystal night, which all occurred on the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av, which generally falls in August.

For Catholics, Greek Orthodox and Episcopalians, there are various saint's days that fall in the summer, but saints' days fall throughout the year. Two of the most famous saints' days are Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.

The Sun is at its lowest path in the sky on the Winter Solstice. After that day the Sun follows a higher and higher path through the sky each day until it is in the sky for exactly 12 hours. On the Spring Equinox the Sun rises exactly in the east travels through the sky for 12 hours and sets exactly in the west. On the Equinox this is the motion of the Sun through the sky for everyone on earth. Every place on earth experiences a 12 hours day twice a year on the Spring and Fall Equinox.

After the Spring Equinox, the Sun still continues to follow a higher and higher path through the sky, with the days growing longer and longer, until it reaches it highest point in the sky on the Summer Solstice.

Then the cycle begins anew with a new harvest.

September 19, 2006